Automatic heel-seat rough-rounder.



M. D. PHELAN.

AUTOMATIC HEEL SEAT ROUGH ROUNDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1906. 1,005,573. Patented 001.1111911.

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M. D. PHELAN. AUTOMATIC HEEL SEAT ROUGH ROUNDBR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1906.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

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M. D. PHELAN.

AUTOMATIC HEEL SEAT ROUGH ROUNDEB..

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1906.

1,005,573. Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

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M. D. PHELAN.

AUTOMATIC HEEL SEAT ROUGH ROUNDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l, 1906.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

coLUmmA PLANoGrzAPn co..w.\slnNaToN. n. c.

M. D. PHELAN.

AUTOMATIC HEEL SEAT ROUGH ROUNDER.

APPLITION FILED JUNE l, 1906. 1,005,573. Patented Oct. 10,1911.

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56 61 l' a, 6E, 21 T t T 14 52 lag 16 j .L fm T15 X55 A ff y "w Inv@i014.' lcgrion .Phelan ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

MERTON D. PHELAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A

AUTOMATIC HEEL-SEAT ROUGH-ROUND'ER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERTON D. PHELAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Automatic Heel-Seat Rough-Rounders, ofwhich the following description, in connection withV the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

My invention relates to machines for rougli rounding or dying out theends of shoe soles; more particularly to a machine for removing marginalmaterial from the heel seats of soles which are already attached to theshoe. In machines of this type as hitherto constructed the cutting orrounding mechanism has been set in operation by a treadle, shipper leveror equivalent, necessitating more or less attention on the part of theoperative.

One of the features of my invention is the provision of means by whichthe cutting or dying out mechanism is set in operation by thepresentation of the work to it and is automatically stopped to permitthe removal of the work at the completion of the cutting operation.

My invention also contemplates conforming the knife employed for cuttingtothe contour of the shoe counter prior to its cutting operation ratherthan during the cutting motion, thereby avoiding relative motion betweenthem during said operation.

These and other features of my invention, however, will be bestunderstood and appreciated from the followin description of oneembodiment thereof se ected for purposes of illustration and shown inthe accompanying drawings, its scope being more particularly pointed outin the appended claims. l

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the head of amachine typifying one embodiment of my invention, and selected forpurposes of illustration, the base of the column being shown as brokenaway; Fig. 2, a rear elevation thereof the supporting column being shownas broken; Fig. 3, an enlarged elevation of the .right end thereof, withparts broken away; Fig. 4, a vertical section taken on the line 4 4,Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views taken on the line 5 5 Fig. 3,the latter, however,

Speeication of Letters Patent.

v.application filed June 1, 1906.

Patented oet. 10,1911. Serial No. 319,709.

lshowing the cutting block depressed into cutting relation with theknife. Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged horizontal sections respectively takenon the lines 7 7 and 8 8, Fig. 4; and Figs. 9 and l0 respectivelyrepresent enlarged longitudinal and transverse vertical sections takenthrough the clutch operating mechanism, Fig. 1, the latter section beingtaken on the line l0 10, Fig. 9.

In the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, (see Fig. l) themachine is provided with a column, l, having a head, 2, upon which thevertical standards orside frames, 3, are secured. Adjacent their upperends these frames are provided with a stationary cross head, 4, andabove said cross head, 4, with suitable bearings for a horizontal driveshaft, 5. This drive shaft is provided at its left end with a balancewheel, 6 (Fig. l), and at its opposite end with a loose pulley, 7,adapted to be constantly rotated by a usual belted connection with anyconvenient source of power.

While any desired number' of rough rounding or dying o-ut mechanisms maybe employed, I have provided, in the present instance, a series or gangof four, each comprising the curved flexible knife, 8 (Fig. l), movablyarranged upon said head, 2. These knives being similar in construction adescription of one will suffice.

The knife, 8 (Figs. l, 4 and 8) is supported by and at the upper ends ofa pair of suitable segmental shaped carriers or flanges, 9 (Figs. 4 and8) rising respectively from horizontal levers, l0. These levers arepivoted intermediate their ends upon a vertical pivot, ll (Figs. 5 and8), secured to said head, 2, permitting said carriers to open and closelike a hinge. The segmental shape of these carriers presents betweenthem a U or heel shaped recess, (Fig. 8), adapted to receive the end ofa shoe, more particularly the counter of an inverted shoe with theattached sole edge overlying and upon the top or cutting edge of theknife. This knife as shown is curved to correspond approximately to theshape of the recess and its front ends are curved outwardly as bestshown in Fig. 8, so that when operated to cut away themarginal materialfrom the heel seat of a shoe sole, the ends of the cut will swingabruptly outward to the edge of the sole leaving sufficient margin atthe ends of said knife and along the shank of the sole for trimming inthe usual manner. To draw the ends of the knife normally toward eachother and reduce the inclosed opening, the front ends of knifesupporting levers, 10, are provided with depending lugs or fingers, 13(Figs. 1, 4 and 8), which are connected by a coil spring, 14, which actsto close or contract the side of the knife against the sides of thecounter and to shape said knife in conformity to the shape of saidcounter. To limit the spring actuated closing of the knife, therearwardly extending arms of said levers, 10 (see Fig. 4), are providedwith depending vertical rollers, 15 (Figs. 3 to 8), which stand betweenand are constantly engaged by the carrier spreading or cam surface ofthe segmental head, 16, formed upon or connected with the lower ends ofvertical arms, 17. Each of these arms is adjustably mounted upon asleeve, 18 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), the latter in turn being rotatablymounted to swing upon a horizontal shaft, 19, suitably supported at itsends by said side frames or standards, 3. As said sleeve, 18, isoscillated 'to swing the cam heads, 16, inward from the position shownin Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6, said cams (see Figs. 7 and 8) willpermit the roller supporting arms to spread under the action of thespring, 14, to contract the heel shaped recess upon the counter of aninserted shoe and closing the knife, 8, to adapt it to cut a heel seatof corresponding size and shape. If the cams are swung in an oppositedirection, their action upon the carrier rollers, 15, will cause them toapproach one another thereby to separate the front ends of the levers,10, against the action of the spring, 14, opening the heel shaped recessto permit the shoe counter to be removed and another inserted therein.By adjustment of the arms, 17, upon the rock shaft, 18, the amount ofopening or the contraction between the sides of the carriers and theknife thereon may be varied within wide limits so that any size of shoecounter may be received, the flexibility of the knife under the actionof the spring, 14, permitting it to conform to the particular size andshape of counter inserted. Cooperating with each of said knives, 8, tocause its edges to cut through the sole overlying it, is a verticalreciprocatory presser block, 20 (see Fig. 1 and 5). This block, 20,depends from a tubular stem or plunger, 21, which is mounted to slidevertically in said cross head, 4, the latter being bored out to providevertical cylindrical recess bearings therefor. The several blocks andtheir connecting mechanisms being alike the description of one issufficient. For adjustably securing said-block, 20, to its plunger, 21,the lower end of the latter is provided with a central threaded recess,22 (Figs. 1 and 5), to receive a threaded shank,

-the cutting face of the block.

23 (Figs. 1 and 5), which is provided at its lower end with an aperturedhead to receive the stem of a block or holding screw, 25, which permitsthe block, Q0, to rotate freely at all times. The circular flanged headof the threaded shank, 23 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5), is also provided with aseries of peripheral openings, 26, adapted to receive a pin or otherpointed instrument by which it may be rotated to adjust its shank andthe block carried thereby vertically relative to its plunger, tocompensate for the wear of That the plunger and presser block carriedthereby may be normally held elevated, preferably by said cross head, 4(Figs. 1 and 4), the latter is provided at opposite sides of eachplunger with cylindrical recesses that receive the screw bolts, 27,extending through openings in t-he bottom of their recesses and tappedinto a horizont-al flange, 28, upon said plunger, 21. Each of thesebolts is surrounded by a coil spring, 29, interposed-she; tween its headandthe bottom of its recess, the latter constituting a stationary seattherefor, so that the action of said springs is normally to elevate saidbolts, the plunger and the block carried thereby. For depressing each ofsaid plungers and its presser block in said cross head, an eccentric,30, is mounted upon said drive shaft, 5, directly over the plunger. Theseveral eccentrics are set on the quarter on said drive shaft, 5, so asto balance the same and equalize the stress thereon. The eccentricstrap, 31 (see Figs. 1, 5, and G), is provided with a depending rod, 32,arranged normally to reciprocate in a central cylindrical opening orrecess, 33, in the head of said plunger. Immediately in front of andabovel the bottom of said recess, 33, is a ledge, 34, constituting aseat for the lower end of the eccentric rod, 32, when the lat-ter isswung forward into engagement therewith. So long as the eccentric rod isheld to the rear as shown in Fig. 5, its reciprocations will impart nomotion whatsoever to the plunger in which it reciprocates. YVhen,however, in its elevated position said rod is deflected to the left orforward, it will upon its next descent, strike the seat, 34, and depresswith it the plunger and its cutting block to cause the latter to die outa sole in the knife beneath. The interior of the recess or opening 33,is provided with av lining 33a of leather or any other convenientmaterial, for successfully resisting wear of the metallic parts. Therod, 32, is normally held in a rear position at one side of said seat,34 (see Fig. 5), by means of a coil spring, 35, connecting said arm witha normally stationary vertically arranged lever, 36. This lever ispivoted intermediate its ends at 37 between rearwardly extending ears,on said cross head, 4, and is adapted to be oscillated to move with it,said eccentric rod, 32, tocause the reciprocations of said cutting blockas described. The curved upper end of this lever stands directly behindand is normally retained in engagement with the eccentric rod by thecoil spring, 35, referred to and which is attached thereto, the head ofsaid plunger having a vertical slot, 38', to permit said lever arm tooscillate therein.

To draw the upper arm of the lever, 36, normally forward, a coil spring,12 (F ig. 4), connects said arm with a cross head, 4, said spring beingstretched or under tension while said lever, 36, is in its rearposition. rlhe forward movement, however, is normally prevented byproviding' the lower end of said lever, 36, at its under side with alug, 38 (Figs. 4 to 6), which is engaged by a hook or projection at theadjacent end of a horizontal latch lever or dog, 39, pivotally mountedat 40, between upwardly extending ears, 4l, of a horizontal cross plate,42, said plate being secured at its ends to said standards, 3. If thelatch or dog, 39, be depressed, the lever, 36, is released to beactuated by its spring, 12, to throw the eccentric rod, 32, forward overthe ledge, 34, to reciprocate the cutting block, 20.

l will now describe the mechanism for depressing the latch, 39, topermit appropriate movement to said lever, 36, to actuate the cutting orpresser block at desired timeA and to retract said lever to its rear ornormal position. This mechanism (see Figs. 4 and 6), comprises the latchlever, 39, to which reference has been made and from which depends avertical swinging cam lever, 43, provided at its front edge with a camlug, 48. Normally overlying this cam lug is the cam end, 47, of ahorizontal actuating or releasing lever, 44, pivotally mounted with thelatch, 39, at 40 (Fig. 4). lntermediate its ends this lever is providedwith a depending lug or stop, 45, to limitthe downward swing of saidlever, a coil spring, 46, interposed between the rear end of said leverand said cross plate, 42, normally retaining it in elevated orhorizontal position. That the releasing lever, 44, and its connectedlatch, 39, may be actuated automatically by the insertion of a shoe inthe U-shaped recess to cause the rounding mechanism to operate, l have,in the present instance, provided a vertical lever, 55, which at itslower end is pivotally mounted at 56 between ears of a bracket securedto said cross plate, 42. The upper end of said lever stands back of theU or heel-shaped recess presented between the sides of the carriers, 9,and knife, 8, being forked at 57, in position to be engaged and movedrearward by and upon insertion of a shoe in the knife opening. rlhe backof this lever, 55, has a lug, 54, to engage a horizontal adjustingscrew, 53, or mounted in a vertical lug or arm, 52, of the releasinglever, 44. By this arrangement the rearward movement of the lever, 55,depresses the lever, 44, and the cam lever, 43, to depress the latchlever, 39, away from the lower end of the upright lever 3G, permittingthe latter to spring' forward at its upper end and move the eccentricrod to cause depression of its cutting block and die out the sole of ashoe inserted on said knife. This lever, 55, thus governs the releasinglever and consequently the rounding mechanism and constitutes areleasing device therefor. By means of the adjusting screw 53, theforked end, 57, of said lever may be moved toward and from the back ofthe knife so that any desired amount of man ginal material may beremoved from the projecting edge of a shoe sole by the cutting action ofsaid knife, thus also acting as a rear gage for positioning the shoerelative to the back of the knife. As herein shown this rear gage or itslever, 55, is yieldingly secured to the releasing lever, 44, by means ofa coil spring 59, connecting said lug or stop, 54, and said lug, 52.This construction permits the rounding mechanism to be released oractuated by the movement of the rear gage in positioning a shoe, and istherefore under the control of the operative, the machine actingautomatically upon the presentation of the shoe or counter, theeccentric arm, 32, being swung forward to depress the cutting blockafter the shoe has been positioned in the recess presented byv the knifeand its carriers and lnot during the relative movement of said knife andits cutting block.

The rearward movement of the lever, 36, or its return to normal positionand which is utilized to vcatch and again lock with the latch lever, 39,to hold the eccentric rod in its rear or inoperative position isprovided as followsz-As said cam lever, 43, is depressed (Figs. 5 and 6)the beveled edge, 5l,

of the plate, 42, operates as a cam to deflect rearwardly the roundedend, 50, of the cam lever, 43, to disengage its lug, 48, from the end ofsaid releasing lever 44, to free said cam lever. Then thus released thecam lever is drawn to the front by its spring, 49, and its lug ridingupward on the cam end, 48, of its lever, 44, causes said cam lever to beraised and with it the latch lever, 39, to which it is connected, toplace said latch lever in readiness to catch the lugged end of theupright lever, 36, when the latter returns to its forward position, saidlatch lever, 39, is thus placed in a position to catch the uprightlever, 3G, when the upper arm of the latter is swung rearward by returnor upward movement of the plunger, 2l. To cause said lever, 36, to be soreturned to its normal position for locking its lower end in engagementwith said lever, 39, l have,

in the present instance, provided a l tripping device which isinterposed between the back of said cross head, et, and said lever, 36.This tripping device (see l? 5 and t5), comprises a bell crank, GO,tapered at its upper end and provided with a shoulder, {31,thehorizontal face of which constitutes a lifter lug to engage a lug, 62,formed at the front of the upper arm of said lever, 3G. rlhis bell crankis pivoted between ears formed on said plunger lflange, 28, and movestherewith, a coil spring, G3, connecting its short arm with said flangenormally tending to depress said arm and swing the tapered end of saidbell crank rearwardly, said movementvbeing resisted by a stop pin, 64 inthe cross head. By reference to Fig. 6, it will be apparent that, as thepresser block and plunger are depressed, the tapered upper end of thebell crank will be drawn down below said pin which permits its spring,63, to swing said bell crank to the rear to cause the lifter lug, G1, toswing beneath the cooperating lug, GQ, on the lever, 36. Upon the returnor upward movement, the

plunger, taking with it the bell crank, said lifter lug will catch thelever lug and swing the upper end of said lever rearward to draw theeccentric rod, 32, also rearward to prevent a second depression of theplunger. By the continued upward movement of said bell crank its taperedend passes in front of said pin, G11, to disengage the lifter lug, 61,from the lever lug, GQ., but not until said lever, 3o, has been caughtand held at its lower end by the latch lever, '39, described. rllhisleaves the plunger and presser block in the elevated position to whichthey were drawn by their retracting springs, 29. This bell cranktherefore constitutes a tripping device for said lever, 36, andconnected eccentric arm, 32, and which operates to cause the latter tobe swung into its rear or what may be termed its inoperative positionsince it is re ciprocated within the head of the plunger withoutactuating the same.

To permit the knife to close upon the counter of the shoe before theactual cutting takes place, the sleeve, 18, from which the segmentalheads, 16, depend is provided with an upwardly extending arm, 65 (seeFigs. 2 to S), having at its upper end a pivoted block, G6 (Fig. f1),slidably mounted in rectangular ways or a recess, 67, in the lower endof said lever, 36. As said lever is released by the insertion of a shoeor the presentation of the work to the action of the cutting mechanism,and its upper' arm is swung forward by the action of its operatingspring, 12, its lower arm is swung rearward causing the said cam head toswing forwardly, the greater separation of their acting faces, theinclined cam surfaces, freeing said rollers, 15, and permitting them andthe rearwardly extended arms upon which they are mounted to separate asthe front ends of said levers are drawn together under the action oftheir operating spring, la. By this arrangement the knife is closed uponand shaped to the contour of the slice end or counter of the insertedand inverted shoe and this takes place not during the cutting movementbut previous thereto.

To provide suitable means for preventing the knife from always cuttingupon the same portion of the presser or cutting block, (see 1, l and 5),the front of said cross head, 4, to which it is attached is providedwith an oscillatory friction lever or pawl, G8, formed as a bell crankand pivotally mounted by its elbow upon a vertical spindle, 69, providedwith vertical guide arms, 70, which are slidably mounted in a lug, 71,upon said cross head. This lever by its guide arms has a limitedvertical moveinentrelative to said lug, 71, so that the pawl isprevented from following the plunger and its block to the end of itsvertical descent. The arms of said bell crank, 68, are of unequal weightconsequently as the block supporting plate and said bell crank separateduring the descent of said block, said bell crank swings upon its pivotto permit the heavier end to be depressed. This end is provided with africtional means adapted to engage and bear upon the upper face of theblock supporting plate, 24E, as

the latter is elevated by the retracting` springs, 9,9, and as said bellcrank is pivoted ata fixed point at one side of its engaging end furtherupward motion of said plate, 2&1, rotates the latter and the blockcarried thereby until the two arms of said bell crank bear equally uponsaid plate when further rotation is arrested. For normally maintainingsuitable frictional engagement between said bell crank and the blocksupporting plate, a coil spring, 72, is interposed between said lug, 71,and a shoulder formed on said spindle, 69.

Having described the mechanism for releasing and operating the roughrounding or cutting mechanism, l will next describe the side gages, 58(see Figs. 1, l to 6, and 8), for positioning the shoe laterallyrelative to the flexible knife in order to provide for removing themarginal material from the heel seat at a desired distance from thesides of the shoe counter. rThese gages are ar ranged at the inner sidesof the knife and atl the front end of said heel shaped recess and each,as herein shown, is in the form of a horizontal bell crank, 73 (Fig. 8),pivoted adjacent its elbow to the segmental shaped carriers, 9, by avertical pivot bolt, Til (Figs. er, and 8), the inner end of said leveror the gage proper, 58, lying parallel with the front and sides of theknife and its outer end standing between the head of said screw and acollar, 77, formed thereon, said screws being tapped into lugs or ears,78, formed UJI upon the outer sides of the carrier. By turning thesescrews, their inner or gage ends may be swung in or out as desired tovary the distance from the cutting edge of the knife and thus positionthe sides of the shoe counter relative thereto, so that any desiredamount of marginal material may be cut away from the corresponding edgeof the shoe sole or heel seat. By means of the adjusting screw, 53 (Fig.4), for the rear gage, 57, the rear of the shoe may be similarlypositioned as already described, relative to the cutting edge of theknife, these gages together providing adequate means to shape the heelseat in accordance with any desired pattern, or size and shape. lnpractice, the gages for each pair of knives, for example, those on theright (see Fig. 1) may be adjusted to operate upon rights and lefts andupon the larger sizes of shoes while those on the left may be similarlyadjusted for the smaller sizes so that the machine will cut or shape theheel seat for any desired size of shoe.

To prevent the accumulation of the removed marginal pieces or scrap uponthe top of the carriers and around the edge of the knife, a scrap knifeor cutter is provided. This scrap knife, 90, in the present instance, ispivotally mounted upon a rearwardly projecting ear, 92, of one of thecarriers. Said knife, 90, is in the form of a vertically arranged lever,its upper end having a rearwardly inclined cutting edge, the front ofwhich is maintained against the rear of the flexible knife by means of acoil spring, 93, interposed between the lower arm of said lever and theback of the adjacent carrier on which it is seated. By this arrangementthe scrap is cut in two upon the depression of the cutting block, 20,and falls away from the flexible or rounding knife, thereby preventingthe accumulation of scrap and consequent interference with the operationof the cutting mechanism.

For starting and stopping the drive shaft, a suitable clutch mechanismis provided, comprising in the present instance, (see Figs. 1, 9 and10), a split band or friction ring, 79, retained within a cylindricalrecess in the side of said loosely mounted pulley, 7, by means of anannular face plate, 80. This band is adapted to enga-ge by its outerface the inner walls of said pulley and is supported upon a circularring flange, S1 (see Figs. 9 and 10), extending outwardly from a collar,82, splined or otherwise slidably secured upon said drive shaft, 5. Atone side, here shown as the front, this collar is provided with a` wedgeshaped lug, 83 (Fig. l), its end being received between the inclinedlends of said split friction band, but normally out of engagementtherewith. `When said collar is slid forwardly to the right (Fig. 9) thewedge engages the inclined ends of said band causing the latter toexpand and engage with said pulley and to rotate therewith. The collaris actuated by means of a slide bar, 84, (Fig. 9), having a yoke, 85,received into a circumferential groove in said collar, said slide beingslidably mounted in the right standard, 3, and slid to and fro by meansof a pivoted shipper lever, 86, its forked end, 87, engaging ahorizontal pin, 88, extending forwardly from said slide bar, 84, andcausing the latter to move with the forked end of said shipper lever.This shipper lever may be swung in either direction causing the slidebar and its connected collar to move therewith to expand or contract thesaid spring band, 79, as may be desired, said band constituting thelclutch member to rotate said drive shaft.

My machine is operated as follows The drive shaft, 5, with its severaleccentrics and their rods is caused to operate constantly by actuatingthe clutch member to engage the constantly rotating pulley, 7. The heelor rear gage and the side gages of each of the knives are then adjustedto cause them to position the shoe when inserted in the U-shaped recessso that the knife will leave the required edge of sole projecting fromthe side of the shoe or to remove the desired amountof marginal materialtherefrom. The operative then takes a shoe upper having an attached soleand inverts and bottoms the heel portion or counter thereof in the heelshaped recess between the sides of one of the knives and against therear gage, 57, therein. The endwise movement of the shoe againstsaidgage causes the latter to swing back into its adjusted position relativeto the back of t-he knife, the side gages simultaneously positioning theshoe laterally therein so that the knife when operated will die out orremove the marginal. material at the desired distance from the counter.In this position, the marginal portion of the heel seat rests upon andoverlies the cutting edge of said knife and the rearward swing of saidrear gage, 57, to its adjusted position, releases the eccentric rodcontrolling lever, 36, from engagement with the hooked end of the latchlever, 39, to permit it to be thrown forward by the coil spring, 12. Asthe upper arm of said lever, 36, is thrown forward its lower arm will bethrown rearward causing the sleeve shaft, 18, to be oscillated by theengagement of the slide block, 66, with the lower end of said lever. Bythis movement the arms, 17, are swung forwardly with their inclined camfaces, 16. The lever rollers, 15, are thus permitted to separate, saidseparati-on being positively produced by the action of the coil springs,14, at the front end of the said levers, 10, causing the carriers, 9,and the knife, 8, supported thereon to contract upon the counter of theshoe whatever may be its size, thus curving or shaping the knife to thecontour of said counter. lThe rotation of said drive shaft, 5, causesone of the eccentrics, 30, by the engagement of the end of its eccentricrod, 32, with the plunger seat, 34, to depress its plunger and thecutting or presser block connected therewith upon the edge of the soleoverlying said knife to remove the desired amount of margin. Thesubsequent upward movement of the eccentric and its arm, 32, permitssaid plunger and the cutting block carried thereby also to rise throughthe contraction of their retracting springs, 29. Simultaneously thetripping device, 60, at the rear of the plunger by its stop, 61, tripsor swings rearward the upper arm of. said lever, 36, swinging the lowerarm forward and rocking said sleeve, 18, to cause the cam heads, 16, toswing rearwardly and by their engagement with the lever rollers, 15,positively cause the latter to approach one another, swinging the frontends of said levers outwardly and thus opening the heel shaped recess topermit free withdrawal of the shoe. The instant the shoe is withdrawnfrom engagement with the rear gage, 57, said gage is swung forwardthrough the extension of the coil spring, 46, acting to lift the cam endof the releasing lever, 44, said cam end, 47, slipping by the said lug,48, which gives way before it and which returns again under it. Said camlever, 43, is locked in its elevated position between the cross plate,42, and said lever, 44, positively holding the lever, 39, in fixedelevated position to hold the notched end of the lever, 36, in itsnormal or vertical position until it is again released by thepresentation of another shoe to the action of the knife. As the presserblock, 20, rises, itis partially rotated by the pivoted pawl lever, 68,so that a new surface of the presser block may always be presented tothe subsequent cutting action of the knife against it.

l have described the operation of the machine relative to the action ofbut one of the rough rounding mechanisms, but it is obvious that all ofthe cutters may be operated at the same time and that from one to fouroperatives may be employed for placing the shoes in position to actuateeach of the respective rounding mechanisms independently.

It will be readily apparent that each knife may be used alone or allsimultaneously and that an operative may operate one knife or two as maybe desirable, in the latter case grasping an inverted shoe in each handand inserting the counters thereof in proper position relative to theadjacent rounding knife to operate as described.

It is evident that this machine and each of the rounding mechanismsconnected therewith is entirely automatic in its operation and isactuated by the presentation of the work thereto and, so far as 1 amaware, 1 believe that I am the first to invent a machine of this type.

This machine enables heel seats to be died out in the manner describedwith a greater speed and accuracy than is possible with machines of anyother type known to me, and it is obvious that my machine is also usefulin dying` out from the toe end or fore part of a shoe or for cuttinglout marginal portions from leather or other material to a shape.presented by the edge of the knife and that the knife supporting platesmay be given any desired shape or separation to cause the knifesupported thereon to present any desired contour. Furthermore, while 1have described one embodiment of my invention, particularly adapted fordying out the heel seats of shoes and in which a gang of four dies isused, any number may be employed, my invention not being rcstricted inthese respects, nor to its use in connection with the manufacture ofboots and shoes. 1t will be obvious that my invention is not limited tothe specific details or to the arrangement of parts herein shown, forillustrative purposes only, but that the same may be modified andAvaried within wide limits without departing from the spirit thereof.

What 1 claim is 1. An organized machine of the type described comprisingin combination a stationary flexible knife, means for curving said knifeto the contour of the boot or shoe counter, a pressure or cutting blockmovable toward and from said knife, and means acting automatically uponpresentation of a shoe to said knife to operate said pressure block forthe purpose described.

2. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa stationary flexible knife, means for curving said knife to the contourof the boot or shoe counter, a pressure or cutting block movable towardand from said knife, and means acting automatically upon presentation ofa shoe to said knife to operate said curved means and pressure block.

3, An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationknife carrying means presenting a heel shaped recess and provided with aflexible knife, a presser block and means governed by the insertion of ashoe in said recess to move said carrying means to curve or shape saidknife to the contour of the boot or shoe counter and thereafter to movesaid knife and block one relative to the other for the purposedescribed.

4. An organized machine of the type described, comprising in combinationa flexible knife, means for curving or shaping the knife to conformtothe boot or shoe counter, a presser block, and means for producingmotion between said block and knife, one relative to another, said twomeans constructed and arranged for automatic operation by thepresentation of the boot or shoe to the action of said knife.

5. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa flexible knife arranged to present a U shaped recess, a cutting blockmovable relatively thereto, and means actingl automatically by theinsertion of work into said recess to close the knife into conformitywith the work and then produce relative motion between said knife andblock to cut the sole.

6. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa stationary flexible curved edge knife arranged to present between itssides a recess adapted to receive one end of the shoe with the margin ofthe attached sole projecting beyond said knife edge, means forconforming said curved knife edge to the shape of said shoe end, acutting block movable toward and from the knife, means for moving saidblock, and means acting automatically upon the insertion of the shoeinto said recess to move the knife into operative position and operatesaid moving means to operate the block.

7. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa stationary and flexible curved edge knife arranged to present betweenits sides a recess adapted to receive one end of a shoe with the marginof the attached sole projecting beyond said knife edge, yielding meansfor conforming said curved knife edge to the shape of said shoe end, acutting block, means for moving said knife and block one relatively tothe other, and means acting automatically upon the insertion of theshoeinto said recess to move the knife into operative position and thenoperate said moving means to actuate the block.

8. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa flexible curved edge knife arranged to present between its sides arecess adapted to receive one end of the shoe with the margin of theattached sole projecting beyond said knife edge, means for conformingsaid curved knife edge to the shape of said shoe end, a cutting block,means for moving said knife and block one relative to the other, andmeans acting automatically upon the insertion of the slice into saidrecess to first move the knife into operative relation with the work andthen operate said moving means, and means for positively separating saidknife and block at the conclusion of the cutting movement.

9. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa flexible curved edge knife arranged to present between its sides arecess adapted to receive one end of the shoe with the margin of theattached sole projecting beyond said knife edge, means for conformingsaid curved knife edge to the shape of said shoe end, a cutting block,means for moving said knife and block one relative to the other andmeans acting automatically upon the insertion of the shoe into saidrecess to operate said knife conforming means, and cause rel ativecutting movement of the block and knife.

l0. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa dying out knife, a pair of knife supports having a curved peripheryforming a recess adapted to receive the upper of the shoe with the edgeof its attached sole projecting beyond the edge of said knife, a presserblock, and means governed by the insertion of a shoe into said recess tomove the knife into conformity with the work and then operate said blockand knife supports one relative to t-he other, said movement beingadapted to remove marginal material from the shoe sole.

1l. In a rough rounding machine for rounding the end of shoe soles, astationary curved dying out knife, pivoted knife supports, means actingprior to the cutting movement to move the supports and shape the curveof the knife to different sizes of shoes, and means controlled by thepresentation of the work to operate said shaping means.

12. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa curved dying out knife presenting a U shaped recess, gages forpositioning the shoe within said knife, a pressure o-r cutting block,and means governed by the presentation of the work to said gages formoving said knife and block one relative to the other to round the endOf a shoe.

13. In a machine of the type described, cutting' means comprising acurved knife for rounding the ends of shoe soles and pivoted gagesextending within the contour of the knife for positioning the workrelative thereto, substantially as shown and described.

lil. An organized machine of the type described comprising incombination a cutting device, and a gage for positioning the workrelative thereto, a cutting block, constantly reciprocating means, andnormally inactive means between said block and reciprocating meansarranged to produce relative motion between said cutting device andblock upon movement of said gage by presentation of the work.

l5. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa knife, a presser block, operative means governed by the presentationof the work for causing said knife to conform to the work and then causemovement of said knife and block one toward the other, means forseparating them, and means actuated by the last named means forrendering said operative means inoperative until the subsequentpresentation of work to the action of the cutting device.

16. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa flexible knife arranged to present a U shaped recess between its sidesto receive a shoe end with the margin of its attached sole projectingbeyond the cutting edge of said knife, a cutting block, means forcurving the knife to conform in shape to the shoe end as the latter isplaced in said recess7 means for moving said knife and block intocutting relation one relative to the other, and means connected witheach of said means and governed by the insertion of the shoe in saidrecess to actuate the same.

17. An organized machine of the type described. comprising incombination a flexible knife arranged to present a U shaped recessbetween its sides to receive a shoe end with the margin of its attachedsolel projecting beyond the cutting edge of said knife, a cutting block,means for curving the knife to conform in shape to the shoe end, meansfor moving said knife and block into cutting relation one relative tothe other, and means connected with each of said means and governed bythe insertion of the shoe in said recess to actuate the same, and meansfor separating said knife and block at the conclusion of the cuttingmovement thereof.

1S. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa flexible knife arranged to present a U shaped recess between its sidesto receive a shoe end with the margin of its attached sole projectingbeyond the cutting edge of said knife, a cutting block, means forcurving the knife to conform in shape to the shoe end, means for movingsaid knife and block into cutting relation one relative to the other,and means connected with each of said means and governed by theinsertion of a shoe in said recesss to actuate the same, the latterhaving connections with said moving means to be operated thereby.

19. An organized machine of the type described eomprising in combinationknife shaping means, a cutting block, means for moving said block andknife one relative to the other for the. purpose described, said knifeshaping means being constructed and arranged to operate and conform theknife to the shoe contour independently and prior to the relativemovement between said knife and block in making the cutting stroke,substantially as shown and described.

20. An organized machine of the type described comprising a knifeadapted to be shaped to the contour of a shoe end, a cutting block,means for moving said knife and block one relative to the other,independent means for closing said knife upon a shoe presented theretoprior to said relative cutting movement of the knife and block, anddependent means for opening it, substantially as shown and described.

21. An organized machine of the type described comprising in combinationa drive shaft, a rounding knife, a cutting block, and means operated bysaid drive shaft for moving said knife and block one relative to theother, and unitary means under control of the operative for causing theknife to conform to the shape of the shoe end and thereafter to move theknife and block relatively to cut the sole, substantially as shown anddescribed.

22. A machine of the type described comprising in combination roughrounding means provided with a cutting knife and block, constantlymoving means constructed and arranged to move said knife and blockrelatively one toward the other, means for holding said moving means ininoperative position relative to said rounding mechanism havingreleasing mechanism connected therewith, and means governed by thepresentation of work for closing the knife upon the work and actuatingsaid releasing mechanism.

23. A machine of the type described comprising in combination roughrounding means provided with a cutting knife and block, constantlymoving means constructed and arranged to move said knife and blockrelatively one toward the other, means for holding said moving means ininoperative position relative to said rounding mechanism havingreleasing mechanism connected therewith, means governed by thepresentation of work for closing the knife upon the work and actuatingsaid releasing mechanism, and means for separating said knife and blockat the conclusion of a cutting movement and to restore said moving meansto inoperative position.

24. A machine of the type described comprising in combination roughrounding means provided with a cutting knife and block, constantlymoving means constructed and arranged to move said knife and blockrelatively one toward the other means .for holding said moving means ininoperative position relative to said rounding mechanism havingreleasing mechanism connect-` ed therewith, and means governed by thepresentation of work for closing the knife upon the work and actuatingsaid releasing mechanism. and means for separating said knife and blockat the conclusion of a cutting movement.

25. A machine of the type described comprising in combination roughrounding isa means provided with a cutting knife and block, constantlymoving means constructed and arranged to move said knife and blockrelatively one toward the other, means for holding said moving means ininoperative position relative to said rounding mechanism releasingmechanism connected therewith, means governed by the presentation ofwork for closing the knife upon the work and actuating said releasingmechanism, means for separating said lmife and block at the conclusionof a cutting movement, and a tripping device for restoring saidconstantly moving means to its normal inoperative position.

26. In a machine of the class described, means for producing relativemotion between a cutting block and a knife comprising a rotary shaft andeccentric thereon having an arm 32, a member 36 to control the same, adog 39 for holding the latter,iand means for releasing said dog.

27. In a machine of the class described, means for producing relativemotion between a cutting block and a knife comprising a rotary shaft andeccentric thereon having an arm 32, a member 36 to control the same, adog 39 for holding the latter, and means for releasing said dog, saidreleasing means comprising the lever 44, and the member 55.

28. In a machine of the class described a flexible cutting knife, pivotgages for determining the relative contour of the work and the sides andback of said knife, and means for adjusting said gages.

29. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with arounding knife presenting a recess adapted to receive the end of a shoe,of a gage for determining the depth to which said shoe may be insertedinto said recess, and means, operated by contact of the shoe with saidgage for moving the lmife to conform to the work and for controlling theoperation of the machine.

30. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a knifehaving flexible ends adapted to be closed upon the end of a shoe andmeans to cause said closing movement as the shoe is inserted into theknife,

of yielding means for separating said ends, and means for severing thescrap removed by said knife, whereby the separation of said ends underthe influence of said yielding means is facilitated.

3l. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with cuttingmechanism including a HeXible, curved knife, of means operative uponpresentation of the work within the lmife for changing the curvature ofsaid knife prior to the operation of said cutting mechanism.

32. In a sole rounding machine, the combination of a curved and flexibleknife for cutting the marginal portion of a shoe sole, a cutting block,means acting automatically by insertion of the shoe in the curve of theknife for causing the knife to conform to the shape desired and thecutting block to be moved toward and from the knife, and means forrotating the block as it is moved.

33. In a machine for rounding shoe soles, the combination of astationary iieXible knife on which the sole to be rounded may be placedand supported, a cutting block movable toward and from the stationaryflexible knife, and work actuated means acting to Erst cause theflexible knife to conform to the shape desired and subsequent to suchshaping movement of the knife to cause the cutting block to be movedtoward the stationary eXible knife.

34. In a sole rounding machine, the combination of a curved and flexibleknife for cutting the marginal portion of a shoe sole, a cutting block,a cross-head carrying said block, means for moving the block toward andfrom the knife, a spindle carried by the cross-head and having apivotally mounted pawl, and a spring for holding the pawl in position toengage the cutting block as the latter rises to turn it horizontally.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MERTON D. PI-IELAN.

Witnesses:

WILBURT D. JONES, SIDNEY F. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

